Bin unloader break back system

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is concerned with providing an improved swingable unloading auger conveyer for a combine harvester in that it provides assistance in swinging the auger conveyer from a transport to the unloading position; it provides an automatic means of aligning the driving elements of the auger so that they become properly indexed during the previously mentioned positioning operation; and it provides a safety release in case the unloading conveyer when in unloading position hits some obstruction this safety release being in the nature of a break back brace member having a frictional engagement and with the aforementioned swinging assist functioning as an energy absorbing element during the break back.

United States Patent Reaves [451 June 20, 1972 [54] BIN UNLOADER BREAKBACK SYSTEM [21] Appl.No.: 135,304

[52] 0.8. CI. ..214/522, 214/8336, 214/8332, 56/ 10.4 [51] Int. Cl...B60p l/42 [58] Field ofSearch ..214/83.26, 83.32,521,522; 198/64, 113;56/104 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,981,400 4/1961Rohweder ..198/113 X 3,390,515 7/1968 Schaible et al ..56/10.4

Primary Examiner-Albert J. Maltay Attorney-Kenneth C. McKivett, CharlesL. Schwab and Robert B. Benson ABSTRACT This disclosure is concernedwith providing an improved swingable unloading auger conveyer for acombine harvester in that it provides assistance in swinging the augerconveyer from a transport to the unloading position; it provides anautomatic means of aligning the driving elements of the auger so thatthey become properly indexed during the previously mentioned positioningoperation; and it provides a safety release in case the unloadingconveyer when in unloading position hits some obstruction this safetyrelease being in the nature of a break back brace member having africtional engagement and with the aforementioned swinging asistfunctioning as an energy absorbing element during the break back.

locm uonwm n um BIN UNLOADER BREAK BACK SYSTEM This invention relates tocombined harvester-threshers, and it is concerned more particularly withthe provision of an improved auger type conveying system for unloadingthreshed material from a storage bin which is mounted on and forms partof the harvester-thresher.

Combines, particularly those of the self-propelled type, are largemachines both as to width and height, and these machines are ordinarilyprovided with a large bin into which threshed grain is delivered. Whenthe bin is filled, a wagon or truck is drawn alongside the combine andthe threshed grain is discharged from the bin via a conveyor, normallyof the enclosed auger type. Many times this unloading process is carriedout while the combine continues to move down a field harvesting grain.In the case of the typical combine, the auger conveyer extends laterallyupwardly at one side of the combine to an extent sufficient to providefor adequate side clearance between the combine and the truck and foradequate top clearance between the truck and the discharge end of theauger conveyor. This lateral overhang of the unloading conveyermaterially increases the overall width of the machine. In many combinesheretofore known, transport of the combine along narrow rows and throughnarrow gates or through areas of low clearance could only be affected bycompletely removing the unloading conveyor. In other combines, provisionwas made for folding of the conveyer to a position in which it would liealongside of the combine. In many constructions of the latter type, theprovision for folding of the unloading conveyer was of such complicatednature that it was not a one man job.

Generally, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedharvester-thresher wherein an auger type unloading conveyer system is soconstructed as to avoid the hereinbefore outlined difficulties in apractical and entirely satisfactory manner.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide animproved mounting for an auger type conveyer on a combine which mountingpermits easy (one man) adjustment of the conveyer to an unloadingposition or a transport position wherein the conveyer lies within theprofile of the combine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved conveyermounting of the hereinabove outlined character which is so constructedthat an operator may readily adjust the conveyer to an unloadingposition or a transport position without having to manually lift thefull weight of the conveyor.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improvedharvester-thresher of the hereinabove outlined character incorporatingan adjustably mounted auger and tube assembly which can be positioned inunloading position all during actual harvest operation and which isreleasable when accidentally striking an object for swinging towardtransport position with energy absorbing means for dampening suchswinging action.

A further object of this invention is to provide easily manufactured andrelatively inexpensive parts adapted for use in moving an auger typeconveyer from transport position to discharge position or vice versa.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combine harvesterwith a discharge auger conveyer which is capable of being struck when inits discharge position without being damaged.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a discharge augertype conveyer for a combine harvester which can be rapidly and easilyshifted from transport position to discharge position or vice versa byone man.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following specification and the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a combine-harvester embodying theinvention with the auger conveyer thereof in discharge position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of part of the grain bin and unloadingauger conveyer shown in unloading position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section view taken on line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on line lV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view looking at the back side of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a part of a brace rod shown in FIG.2;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the brace rod shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section view taken on line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an exploded side elevation view similar to FIG. 5 with someparts removed for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the combine with the discharge conveyerin transport position;

FIG. 1 1 is a section view taken on line XIXI of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a section view taken on line XII-XII of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a section view taken on line XIII-XIII of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a section view taken on line XIV-XIV of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a section view similar to FIG. 3 demonstrating the connectionof the conveyors.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 10 it is seen that a self-propelled harvesteris provided including a cutting and conveying mechanism 10, a threshingand separating mechanism 11, and a grain or storage bin 12; all of thesemechanisms being positioned on a frame structure chassis 13 includingfront traction wheels 14, an operators platform 15, and dirigible rearwheels 16. Also mounted on chassis 13 is an engine 17 operativelyconnected to the mentioned mechanisms by means (not shown). A grainelevator (not shown) is mounted adjacent the discharging portion ofseparating mechanism 11 in grain receiving relation thereto and movesgrain into grain bin 12. A transversely horizontally extending unloadingauger type conveyer 18 (FIG. 2) is joumaled at one end in bearing 19(FIG. 3) carried by sidewall 21. Conveyor 18 (FIG. 2) extendshorizontally just above the floor of bin 12 and the other end ofconveyer 18 (not shown) is journaled in the sidewall of bin 12 oppositeto sidewall 21. This other end of conveyer 18 is operatively connectedto engine 17 for being driven by same (by means not shown). Conveyor 18includes a central shaft 22 upon which auger flighting 23 is mounted. Anextension 24 (FIG. 3) of conveyer 18 extends outwardly and upwardly fromgrain bin wall 21 and includes a surrounding tube 25 provided withflanges 26 and 27 on the ends thereof. Flange 26 is attached to sidewall21. Extension conveyer 24 angles upwardly at approximately 25 to thehorizontal and includes a central shaft 28 connected to shaft 22 bymeans of universal joint 29. The other or free end of shaft 28 has asocket member 30 attached thereto. Also attached to shaft 28 isflighting 31.

Referring to FIG. 9 it is seen that flange 27 of tube 25 has a pair ofhinge elements 32 and 33 attached thereto and these hinge elements 32and 33 can be mated with hinge elements 34 and 36 of discharge conveyer37. Discharge conveyer 37 includes an outer tube 38 having a flange 39to which is attached the hinge elements 34 and 36. A hinge rod 41 (FIG.5) is received within these hinge elements to provide pivotal movementof conveyer 37 about the longitudinal axis of rod 41. The longitudinalaxis of rod 41 is not quite vertical as is shown in FIG. 10. The upperend of rod 41 is closer to the rear end of the combine than the lowerend of rod 41. This difference permits conveyer 37 to be pivoted aboutrod 41 to the transport position shown in FIG. 10 wherein the outer endof conveyer 37 is at a height less than grain bin 12 and is within theouter limits of the side to side profile defined by the traction wheelsof the combine (not shown). It is to be noted (see FIG. 5) that rod 41extends beyond hinge elements 33 and 34 and on these extensions of rod41 a pair of spaced apart pair of torsion springs 42 and 43 are mountedfor movement about the longitudinal axis of rod 41. Springs 42 and 43are retained on rod 41 by means of pins 44 and washers 46. The outerends of springs 42 and 43 are received in member 47 and the inner endsare received in member 48. Members 47 and 48 are in contact withconveyer 24 and 37 respectively, but in the position shown in FIG. 5these springs are not exerting any torsional force on conveyer 24 or 37as this shown position is the neutral position of these springs. It isto be noted that torsion springs 42 and 43 are die springs with squareor rectangular cross-sections so as to provide a wide range of torsionalener- 8)- Discharge conveyer 37 (FIG. 3) includes a central shaft 49which is joumaled at its lower end in a centrally positioned bearing 51carried by straps 52 which are attached to sleeve 35 carried by tube 38.The upper end of shaft 49 is joumaled in a similar manner (not shown). Apilot assembly 53 is attached to the lower end of shaft 49. Pilotassembly 53 is provided with a tapered end portion 54 (FIG. and a drivenportion 56 which mates with a drive portion 57 in socket member 30 fordriving conveyer 37 when conveyer 37 has been aligned with conveyerextension 24. It is to be noted as shown in FIGS. 3 and 15 that taperedend portion 54 is centrally located in tube 38 but as is shown in FIG.15 socket member 30 is not supported in a central position relative totube 25 in that the position of the outer end of shaft 28 depends onwhich portion of flighting 31 is functioning to sup port socket member30 on tube 25, socket member 30 is so proportioned that in its extremeposition of being off of the longitudinal axis of tube 25 (as shown inFIG. 15) pilot assembly 53 will always enter member 30 to provide adriving connection between shafts 28 and 49 when conveyer 37 has beenpivoted to a position wherein flanges 27 and 39 meet. It is to be notedthat a seal (not shown) may be used between flanges 27 and 39 to preventany possible loss of grain.

A pair of braces 58 and 59 (FIG. 2) held support conveyer 37particularly when in the discharge position therein shown. The inner endof brace 58 is pivotally connected to a bracket 61 on bin 12 for pivotalmovement about a substantially vertical axis which is coincident withthe longitudinal axis of hinge rod 41 as is indicated in FIG. 10. Theouter end of brace 59 is attached to upstanding portions of a collar 62encircling tube 38 of conveyer 37.

Brace 58 is pivotally connected at its outer end to a bracket 63 oncollar 62 by means of a bolt and nut 64. The inner end of brace 59 isconnected to bin 12 by means of a breakaway mechanism 66. Breakawaymechanism 66 includes a twin buckle 67 (FIGS. 6 and 7) having twoelements 68 and 69 each threadably engaged at one end therewith. Theunthreaded end of element 68 is provided with an opening 69 forreceiving a stud 71 (FIG. 2) carried by an upper portion of bin 12. Ahandwheel 72 threadably engaged with stud 71 retains element 68positioned relative to bin 12. The unthreaded end of element 69 (FIGS. 6and 7) is provided with a PLATE MEMBER 73 having a hole 74 thereinconnected to a slot 76 which terminates at the outer end of element 69.Brace 59 is provided with a hole 77 which receives a bolt 78 having aspherically headed washer 79 thereon which is biased partly into hole 74by means of spring 81 which is positioned about bolt 78 between brace 59and nut and washer 82. The bias of spring 81 keeps washer 79 positionedin hole 74 and thereby keeping break away mechanism 66 frictionallyengaged with brace 59. When an abnormal pull is applied by brace 59i.e., when conveyer 37 hits an obstruction while moving forward, washer79 would be cammed out of hole 74 and the shank of bolt 78 would be freeto pass through slot 76 disconnecting brace 59 from break away mechanism66 thus permitting conveyer 37 to pivot rearwardly about pin 41 towardstransport position (FIG. 10). As conveyer 37 pivots rearwardly springs42 and 43 are torqued up and thereby absorb much of the energy impartedto conveyer 37 by the unfortunate striking of such obstruction andthereby slow down the swing of conveyer 37 thus preventing destructivecontact between conveyer 37 and the combine.

After the break away mechanism 66 has released the discharge conveyer 37so that it can swing rearwardly, the operator can then return conveyerto operative position by removing handwheel 72 (FIG. 2) from stud '71and then lifting the breakaway mechanism from stud 71. The operatorwould then insert plate 73 (FIGS. 6 and 7) of the breakaway mechanism 66between washer 79 and brace 59 by guiding the shank of bolt 78 throughslot 76 into hole 74. To accomplish this readily it might be necessaryto relax spring 81 somewhat by loosening nut 82. Afler the parts arerepositioned as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 nut 82 should be retightened toprovide the proper amount of frictional engagement between brace 59 andbreakaway mechanism 66. The free end of mechanism 66 would then bereconnected to stud 71 and secured by hand wheel 72 afier conveyer 37was pivoted to discharge position as assisted by the action of springs42 and 43.

Assuming that the discharge conveyer 37 is positioned in dischargingposition as shown in FIG. 1 and the operator wishes to swing conveyer 37to the transport position the operator would remove hand wheel 72 (FIG.2) from stud 71 and remove breakaway mechanism 66 from stud 71. Brace 59which has an angle cross-section would then be inserted under springlatch 83 carried by tube 38 as shown in FIG. 11. Then against the biasof springs 42 and 43 (FIG. 15) conveyer 37 will be swung rearwardlyuntil it can be pushed over hump 84 in ladder hand rail 86 carried bychassis l3 and cradled in a depression 87 in ladder hand rail 86. A band88 on conveyer 37 is provided with a radially extending stud 89 (FIGS.12 and 13) to which a clamp member 91 can be attached by handwheel 92for clamping conveyer 37 to handrail 86.

One man can readily move the discharge conveyer 37 to operative positionfrom the transport position shown in FIG. 10. The operator would loosenhandwheel 92 (FIGS. 12 and 13) until latch member 91 is free of ladderrail 86. Latch member 91 can then be tightened down against band 88 bytightening handwheel 92. Conveyor 37 is then raised up over hump 84 andspring 42 and 43 will move the conveyer to a position approximatelymidway between transport position and operative position. The operatorthen climbs onto platform 15 (FIG. 10) reaches back and releases brace59 from clamp 83. Then with a small amount of pushing and pulling onbrace 59 in order to get some additional help from springs 42 and 43 theoperator can place the end of breakaway mechanism 66 over stud 71 andfasten the mechanism down with handwheel 72. Pilot member 53 (FIG. 15)enters socket member 30 no matter what off center position socket member30 is in. As shown in FIG. 15 socket member 30 is shown at maximumextreme off center position but it is obvious that pilot member 53 willenter socket 30 and provide a driving connection therebetween. Theconveyer is now ready to be powered for unloading bin 12. As soon asconveyer extension 24 is powered a driving connection is establishedbetween driving portion 57 of socket 30 and driven portion 56 of pilot63 thus driving conveyer 37.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a combine harvester having an operator's platfonn, a grain bin anda horizontally extending unloading conveyer positioned within the bottomportion of said bin between the sidewalls thereof, a conveyer extensionattached to said unloading conveyer and extending upwardly from one ofsaid sidewalls, a discharge conveyer pivotally mounted on the dischargeend of said conveyer extension, said discharge conveyer being pivotableto a transport position alongside said harvester or pivotable to anoperative position forming a continuation of said conveyer extension,biasing means for returning said discharge conveyer to operativeposition, a brace member carried by said harvester for supporting saiddischarge conveyor, said brace member being pivotally connected at oneend to said harvester for movement about the same axis as said dischargeconveyer pivots, a second brace member carried by said harvester forsupporting said discharge conveyor, breakaway latch means interposedbetween said second brace member and said harvester and adapted to breakwhen a rearwardly directed force is applied to said discharge conveyerof a sufiicient magnitude, said biasing means being adapted to absorbthe energy of said rearwardly directed force to eliminate destructivecontact between said discharge conveyor and said harvester.

2. In a combine harvester as recited in claim 1 and wherein said biasingmeans comprises a pair of torsional springs mounted about the pivot axisof said discharge conveyer for resisting pivotal movement of saiddischarge conveyer in a rearward direction.

3. In a combine harvester as recited in claim 2 and wherein saidtorsional springs are constructed having a square crossection.

4. In a combine harvester as recited in claim 2 and wherein saidtorsional springs are constructed having a rectangular cross-section.

5. In a combine harvester as recited in claim 1 and wherein means areprovided for one man to move said discharge conveyer from said transportposition to said operative position.

6. ln a combine harvester as recited in claim 5 and wherein said meanscomprises said torsion springs for moving said discharge conveyerhalfway to said operative position and the use of said second brace formoving said discharge conveyer to said operative position.

7. In a combine harvester as recited in claim 1 and wherein saidbreakaway latch means is adjustable to break under any preselectedforce.

8. In a combine harvester as recited in claim 1 and wherein saidbreakaway latch means is readily adjustable as to length to provide easeof attachment of said latch means to said combine.

9. In a combine harvester as recited in claim 1 and wherein saidextension conveyor is provided with a central shaft having a socketmember attached to the discharge end thereof and said discharge conveyeris provided with a shaft having a centered shaft including a pilotassembly receivable in said socket for providing a driving connectiontherebetween whenever said discharge conveyer is pivoted to operativeposition.

10. In a combine harvester as recited in claim 9 and wherein said socketis so configured as to receive said pilot assembly regardless of the outof center position of said socket.

1. In a combine harvester having an operator''s platform, a grain binand a horizontally extending unloading conveyer positioned within thebottom portion of said bin between the sidewalls thereof, a conveyerextension attached to said unloading conveyer and extending upwardlyfrom one of said sidewalls, a discharge conveyer pivotally mounted onthe discharge end of said conveyer extension, said discharge conveyerbeing pivotable to a transport position alongside said harvester orpivotable to an operative position forming a continuation of saidconveyer extension, biasing means for returning said discharge conveyerto operative position, a brace member carried by said harvester forsupporting said discharge conveyor, said brace member being pivotallyconnected at one end to said harvester for movement about the same axisas said discharge conveyer pivots, a second brace member carried by saidharvester for supporting said discharge conveyor, breakaway latch meansinterposed between said second brace member and said harvester andadapted to break when a rearwardly directed force is applied to saiddischarge conveyer of a sufficient magnitude, said biasing means beingadapted to absorb the energy of said rearwardly directed force toeliminate destructive contact between said discharge conveyor and saidharvester.
 2. In a combine harvester as recited in claim 1 and whereinsaid biasing means comprises a pair of torsional springs mounted aboutthe pivot axis of said discharge conveyer for resisting pivotal movementof said discharge conveyer in a rearward direction.
 3. In a combineharvester as recited in claim 2 and wherein said torsional springs areconstructed having a square cross-section.
 4. In a combine harvester asrecited in claim 2 and wherein said torsional springs are constructedhaving a rectangular cross-section.
 5. In a combine harvester as recitedin claim 1 and wherein means are provided for one man to move saiddischarge conveyer from said transport position to said operativeposition.
 6. In a combine harvester as recited in claim 5 and whereinsaid means comprises said torsion springs for moving said dischargeconveyer halfway to said operative position and the use of said secondbrace for moving said discharge conveyer to said operative position. 7.In a combine harvester as recited in claim 1 and wherein said breakawaylatch means is adjustable to break under any preselected force.
 8. In acombine harvester as recited in claim 1 and wherein said breakaway latchmeans is readily adjustable as to length to provide ease of attachmentof said latch means to said combine.
 9. In a combine harvester asrecited in claim 1 and wherein said extension conveyor is provided witha central shaft having a socket member attached to the discharge endthereof and said discharge conveyer is provided with a shaft having acentered shaft including a pilot assembly receivable in said socket forproviding a driving connection therebetween whenever said dischargeconveyer is pivoted to operative position.
 10. In a combine harvester asrecited in claim 9 and wherein said socket is so configured as toreceive said pilot assembly regardless of the out of center position ofsaid socket.